The Wonder Island boys

by Roger T. Finlay

During the excursions they learned of the existence of others who had been shipwrecked, and later discovered that one of the boats made in the early occupation of the island, and which was left by them in a large river, about ten miles to the south of their home, had been taken by some one, who had put different oars and a rope in the boat, which they discovered after it had been found. This, together with the finding of a lifeboat, companion to the one in which they were wrecked, was sufficient evidence that some of their fellow-voyagers were on the island, and this was confirmed when a message was found in the lifeboat, which stated that certain ones were captured by the savages.

Before they had an opportunity of making any exploring trips, the boys discovered a mysterious cavern, not far from their home, and this was explored, with the Professor, and they were startled to find the skeletons of a number of pirates who had inhabited the cave, and the position of the skeletons, and the weapons, showed conclusively that the entire band had been wiped out in a terrific fight.

In the caverns also were found the skeletons of chained captives, the existence of a regular arsenal of weapons, and an immense hoard of treasures, which had been hidden within the recesses of the cave, for centuries.

Many mysterious things occurred to them, too long to relate, but all of them bearing on the things which interested them, and the first serious attempt to discover the savages, was to build a boat twenty feet long, equipped with a sail, and with this, and an ample supply of provisions on board, the course was directed to the northwest, and along the western coast.

During the three days’ cruise, the weather was fair, but on the fourth day a terrible storm came up and drove them back around the northern point of land, and in the height of the storm they were cast ashore, and their boat wrecked, fully seventy miles from their home.

Just before being driven back by the storm, they had the first view of lights, which showed the location of the savages. They laboriously made their way home, and on returning found John, one of the present party, who suffered loss of memory, and had also an attack of aphasia, or inability to speak.

His full name was John L. Varney, and for two months did not utter a word, nor did he seem to recognize the existence of those around him. Singularly enough, he was a first-class mechanic, and during hunting trips showed himself to be expert, as well as in fishing, and did anything and everything which he had seen others engage in.

Together with John, the Professor and the two boys built a first-class wagon, and undertook a trip in the direction of the savages. In the meantime they made several guns, so that they had ten muzzle-loaders, which, while they took time to reload, were better than bows and arrows, that the boys had formerly made and used.

Several months after landing they captured a baby orang-outan. This had now grown to be strong and active, and as these animals have great imitative qualities, George undertook to educate it to do many things, and it succeeded, on its own initiative, in doing many mischievous tricks, which afforded amusement for all the party.

He was called Red Angel, or more commonly Angel, and as he had a wonderful instinct for scenting danger, was always taken on trips, and was with them on the first extended tour made with the new wagon. During that trip the two boys, Ralph Wharton and Tom Chambers, were rescued from the savages, and it was found that both boys were companions on the ill-fated Investigator, and were captured by several tribes of natives, after they had been on the island over nine months.